Spanhoe November 2018 night-shoot
Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford photo-shoot
Spanhoe
2017-2018
A brief photo-report
RAF Spanhoe was opened in 1943, it was used by both the RAF and USAAF. During the war it was mostly used by transport aircraft, it was closed in late 1945.Today Spanhoe airfield is the home of a remarkable collection of interesting aircraft, most are flyable some are in various states of restoration. The owners of the airfield and aircraft prefer to keep their work private, so any approach should be gained with permission. For three years the Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford has been based here for restoration to flying condition by Windmill Aviation on behalf of the Royal Air Force Museum at Cosford.
The Desford prototype was originally registered G-AGOS. It first flew on 9 July 1945. Evaluated at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at RAF Boscombe Down as VZ728 as an advanced trainer powered by two 130 hp de Havilland Gipsy Major engines, it was not selected for production. By 1956 it returned to the civil register as G-AGOS and remained flyable until 1973.
Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford
Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford (VZ728).
Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford
 
Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford
 
Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford
Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford
Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford
 
Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford

Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford
Left to right: Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford (VZ728) in August 2017 during an engine test.
Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford

Some of the other Spanhoe residents
Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford
Fairchild Argus II (HB737 registered G-BCBH).
Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford
Left to right: Fairchild Argus II (HB737 registered G-BCBH).
Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford
Left to right: Helio Courier U-10D (66-14360 marked 66-374 'EO').
Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford
Left to right: Morane-Saulnier MS.733 Alcyon (French Navy/Aeronavale 143 registered G-MSAL).
Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford
Left to right: S.N.C.A.N. Nord NC-856A Norvigie (AdlA 54 'AOM' registered G-CGWR).
Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford
Left to right: Piaggio FWP-149D (D-EHJL ex WGAF 90+31 '18').
Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford
Left to right:Globe GC-1B Swift (G-BFNM), Piper PA-22-160 Pacer (G-APXU) and de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk (WK640 registered G-BWUV).
Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford
Left to right: SIAI-Marchetti SF.260AM (MM54532 registered G-ITAF), Fokker S-11 Instructor (Kon.Marine 174 'K' registered G-BEPV) and DHC-1 Chipmunk (WK640 registered G-BWUV).